18.2 - HTTP Methods in REST
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Introduction to HTTP Methods
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Today, we're diving into HTTP methods and their essential roles in RESTful APIs. Can anyone tell me why we use different methods in web services?
I think it helps in categorizing the type of operation we're performing, right?
Exactly! Each HTTP method corresponds to a specific operation. Let's start with GET. What do you think GET is used for?
GET is used to retrieve data from a server.
Correct! We'll remember GET as 'Get Everything Today.' It helps to retrieve resources efficiently. Let's discuss what kind of responses we expect from GET requests.
It should return the requested resource, usually with a 200 OK status.
Exactly! Great job!
Creating Resources with POST
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Now let's move on to POST. Why is POST important in our APIs?
It's used to create new resources, right?
That's right! You can remember POST as 'Put Our Stuff There.' When we send data, it's processed and we can even get a 201 Created status in response. What might we send with a POST request?
We usually send JSON data representing the new resource.
Exactly! This is crucial for adding new entries to our database.
Updating Resources with PUT
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Next, we have PUT. Who can tell me the main use of this method?
PUT is used to update existing resources.
Right! Think of it as 'Provide Updated Thing.' It's crucial for making changes to what we have. What would you expect as a response after a successful PUT?
We typically see a 200 OK response or perhaps a 204 No Content if there's no body.
Good points! It's important to ensure that you understand how to reflect changes accurately in your API.
Deleting Resources with DELETE
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Finally, let's cover DELETE. Why do you think this is necessary in RESTful APIs?
To remove resources that are no longer needed.
Exactly! You can remember DELETE as 'Ditching Everything Leaving The Earth.' A successful deletion typically results in a 204 No Content status. Can anyone think of an example situation where we would use DELETE?
If a user wants to remove their account from a web application.
Perfect example! Understanding when and how to use these HTTP methods is key to building efficient APIs.
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
Here, we explore four fundamental HTTP methods – GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE – that define how clients interact with resources in a RESTful architecture, facilitating create, read, update, and delete functionalities essential for web services.
Detailed
HTTP Methods in REST
This section discusses the core HTTP methods utilized in RESTful APIs that enable clients to interact with resources over the web. The four main methods are:
- GET: Used to retrieve a resource. It represents a read operation in the context of CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete).
- POST: Utilized for creating new resources, enabling clients to submit data to be processed.
- PUT: This method updates an existing resource, allowing clients to send modified data.
- DELETE: As the name indicates, it removes a specified resource.
Understanding these methods is pivotal for designing and implementing RESTful services, which rely on these operations for effective communication between clients and servers.
Youtube Videos
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Introduction to HTTP Methods
Chapter 1 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
| HTTP Method | Description | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| GET | Retrieve a resource | Read operation |
| POST | Create a new resource | Create operation |
| PUT | Update a resource | Update operation |
| DELETE | Remove a resource | Delete operation |
Detailed Explanation
In RESTful architectures, various HTTP methods are utilized to perform operations on resources. The most common methods include GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. Each method is defined by its purpose and is used for a specific operation on the web resources. For instance, GET is used to retrieve data without making changes to the resource, while POST is used to create new resources. PUT and DELETE are used for updating and removing resources, respectively.
Examples & Analogies
Think of RESTful APIs like a library. When you want to read a book, you GET it from the shelf. If you want to add a new book to the library, you POST it. If the book needs to be updated or the information changed, you PUT the new information in its place. If the book is no longer needed, you DELETE it from the library. Each action correlates directly to an HTTP method.
GET Method
Chapter 2 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
GET | Retrieve a resource | Read operation
Detailed Explanation
The GET method is used to retrieve data from a specified resource. When a client sends a GET request, it is asking the server to return data without making any changes to that data. For example, a client may request information about users, and the server will respond with that information formatted in a way that the client can understand, typically in JSON or XML format.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine you are checking the menu of a restaurant. When you ask the waiter for the menu, you are performing a GET request. You are not changing the menu; you just want to see what options are available.
POST Method
Chapter 3 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
POST | Create a new resource | Create operation
Detailed Explanation
The POST method is used to create a new resource on the server. When a client sends a POST request, it includes data that provides information about the new resource to be created. The server processes this request, and if successful, will typically respond with the created resource, including a unique identifier for it.
Examples & Analogies
Think of POST like submitting a job application. When you fill out an application form and submit it to the company, you are POSTing your data. The company then creates a new record for your application in their system.
PUT Method
Chapter 4 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
PUT | Update a resource | Update operation
Detailed Explanation
The PUT method is used to update an existing resource on the server. When a client sends a PUT request, it typically includes the full representation of the resource that needs to be updated. If the resource exists, the server will replace it with the new data; if it doesn't exist, some implementations allows it to create the resource instead.
Examples & Analogies
Consider the PUT method like updating your personal information on a social networking site. When you change your profile picture or update your bio, you are using PUT to send the new data, overwriting the old information.
DELETE Method
Chapter 5 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
DELETE | Remove a resource | Delete operation
Detailed Explanation
The DELETE method is used to remove a specific resource from the server. When a client sends a DELETE request, it indicates that the specified resource should be deleted. The server processes this request and if successful, will typically respond confirming the deletion.
Examples & Analogies
Think of DELETE as cleaning out your closet. If you decide to remove an old shirt, you would simply take it out and dispose of it. Similarly, in a DELETE request, you are instructing the server to remove a particular resource.
Key Concepts
-
HTTP Methods: Methods used by RESTful APIs to perform actions on resources.
-
GET: Method to read and retrieve data.
-
POST: Method to create a new resource.
-
PUT: Method to update an existing resource.
-
DELETE: Method to remove a resource.
Examples & Applications
Using GET to retrieve user data from a database.
Using POST to create a new user account in a RESTful API.
Using PUT to update a user's profile information.
Using DELETE to remove a specified user account from the API.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
GET gets you a look, POST puts things in place, PUT updates the story, and DELETE leaves no trace.
Stories
Imagine a library: GET lets you browse books, POST lets you add new ones, PUT allows you to update book details, and DELETE removes the old books.
Memory Tools
Gooey Piglet's Day: G for GET, P for POST, U for PUT, D for DELETE.
Acronyms
CRUD
Create
Read
Update
Delete - the fundamental operations for managing resources.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- GET
An HTTP method used to retrieve resources from a server.
- POST
An HTTP method used to create a new resource on the server.
- PUT
An HTTP method used to update an existing resource on the server.
- DELETE
An HTTP method used to remove a resource from the server.
- CRUD
An acronym for Create, Read, Update, Delete, which are the basic operations of persistent storage.
Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.